Keyboard

ABSTRACT

A keyboard  10  includes a housing  12.  An alphanumeric keypad  14  is carried by the housing  12.  A printer  16  is arranged in the housing  12.

This is a C-I-P of U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,767 filed on Jul. 10, 1998.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a keyboard. More particularly, the inventionrelates to a computer keyboard.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Printers for use with computers can be relatively expensive devices.Accordingly, in a work environment, it is common for a plurality of workstations to be serviced by a single printer station with the computersof those work stations communicating with the printer.

This necessitates people at the work station having to get up andcollect their documents from the printer which can be time wasting.Often, all that is required is a single sheet of paper, for example,where a letter is to be generated or where an image is to be viewed anda hard copy of the image is required.

Desktop inkjet printers are available at low cost, but typically take upsubstantial desk space. Incorporation of the printing function in adesktop computer keyboard frees up this desk space.

While it is technically possible to incorporate a scanning ink jetprinter into a keyboard, this has several disadvantages, includingexcess bulk, and side-to-side vibration as the printhead scans.

Recently, the present inventor has invented inkjet printer technologiessuitable for incorporation in a desktop keyboard, such as:

6,227,652 6,213,588 6,213,589 6,231,163 6,247,795 09/113,099 6,244,6916,257,704 09/112,778 6,220,694 6,257,705 6,247,794 6,234,610 6,247,7936,264,306 6,241,342 6,247,792 6,264,307 6,254,220 6,234,611 09/112,80809/112,809 6,239,821 09/113,083 6,247,796 09/113,122 09/112,79309/112,794 09/113,128 09/113,127 6,227,653 6,234,609 6,238,040 6,188,4156,227,654 6,209,989 6,247,791 09/112,764 6,217,153 09/112,767 6,243,11309/112,807 6,247,790 6,260,953 6,267,469 09/425,419 09/425,41809/425,194 09/425,193 09/422,892 09/422,806 09/425,420 09/422,89309/693,703 09/693,706 09/693,313 09/693,279 09/693,727 09/693,70809/575,141

These ink jet technologies are suitable for the construction ofminiature, low cost pagewidth printers, which can readily fit within akeyboard form factor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided akeyboard, particularly for use with a computer, the keyboard including

a housing;

an alphanumeric keypad carried by the housing; and

a page width printer arranged in the housing.

The housing has dimensions approximating those of a standard computerkeyboard, the housing having an ejection slot along one, longer sidethrough which print media can be ejected after an image has been printedon the print media by the printer.

Preferably, the housing includes an input slot along an opposed, longerside for feeding print media to the printer. Typically, the print mediais in the form of sheets of paper to be fed to the printer one sheet ata time.

The keyboard may include a feed means arranged in the housing forfeeding the print media from the input slot to the printer. The feedmeans may be arranged within the housing and may be in the form of abelt drive arrangement for feeding the print media to the printer.

Further, the keyboard may include an engaging means arrangedintermediate the printer and the ejection slot for feeding the printmedia out of the ejection slot. Thus, the engaging means may be arrangeddownstream of the printer and may be in the form of one or more spikedwheels which grip and transport the print media to the ejection slot.

As indicated above, the keyboard is particularly intended for use with acomputer. Accordingly, the keypad may include a standard, QWERTY keypad,a numerals keypad and a plurality of control keys.

The housing may include an access opening for enabling an ink supply ofthe printer to be replenished. The access opening may be closed off by alid in a top surface of the housing. The ink supply of the printer mayinclude a removable ink cartridge which is accessed through the accessopening of the housing.

Preferably, the printer is a full color printer. The printer may be aphoto quality printer.

The printhead may comprise an array of nozzles, said array beingfabricated by microelectromechanical (MEMS) techniques.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided acomputer keyboard which includes

a housing having an array of keys carried thereon and defining achamber;

a pagewidth ink jet printer arranged within the chamber of the housing;and

an input slot in one side of the housing for feeding print media to theprinter and an ejection slot in an opposed side of the housing throughwhich the print media is ejected after printing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is now described by way of example with reference to theaccompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a three dimensional view of a keyboard, in accordance withthe invention;

FIG. 2 shows a sectional side view of the keyboard; and

FIG. 3 shows, on an enlarged scale, a sectional side view of part of thekeyboard.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally designates a keyboard inaccordance with the invention. The keyboard 10 is intended particularlyfor use with a computer. The keyboard 10 comprises a housing 12 on whicha keypad 14 is arranged. A printer 16 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is contained in achamber 18 defined in the housing 12 of the keyboard 10.

The housing 12 is dimensioned similarly to a conventional computerkeyboard and is substantially rectangular when viewed in plan having apair of opposed, longer sides and a pair of opposed, shorter sides. Aninput slot 22 is defined in one of the longer sides of the housing 12for feeding print media in the form of a sheet of paper 24 to theprinter 16. Preferably, the input slot 22 is defined in that side of thehousing 12 which, in use, is closer to a user of the keyboard lo.

An ejection slot 26 is defined in an opposed, longer side of the housingthrough which the sheet of print media, incorporating an image 28, isejected after completion of printing. An exit tray 30 extends outwardlyfrom the ejection slot 26 on to which the sheet of paper 24 is fed afterprinting.

The keypad 14 includes an array if keys 38 arranged in a QWERTY keypad32, a numerals keypad 34 and a plurality of control keys 36. Each key 38of the keypad 14 includes a key cap 40 which communicates with akeyboard circuit board 42 (FIGS. 2 and 3) through an opening in a topsurface of the housing 12. The key caps 40 engage key switches 44mounted on the circuit board 42.

The printer 16 comprises a page width ink jet printhead 46 mounted in asupport 48. The printhead 46 is a multi-color printhead for printingphoto quality images 28. Accordingly, the support 48 includes aplurality of galleries 50, each of which contains a different color inkto be fed via passages 52 to the printhead 46.

The printer 16 includes a controller printed circuit board (PCB) 55. ThePCB 55 receives printing commands from the computer (not shown) via aUSB connector 56 (FIG. 1). A printhead PCB 54 communicates with theprinthead 46 via a TAB automated bond film 58 or any other suitable,flexible film. The controller PCB 55 connects to the printhead PCB 54via a flexible film.

A retaining device, in the form of a locking member 60, releasably locksthe printer 16 in position in the chamber 18 of the housing 12. Thelocking device 60 includes a cam-like locking member 62.

Further, the printer 16 includes an ink supply cartridge (not shown) forfeeding ink to the galleries 50 of the printhead support 48. The inksupply cartridge is accessed through an opening, closed off by a lid 64(FIG. 1), in a top surface of the housing 12 to replace the cartridgewhen its supply of ink has been depleted.

The keyboard 10 includes a feed mechanism 66 for feeding the sheet ofpaper 24 to the printer 16. The feed mechanism 66 comprises an endlessbelt 68 which is rotated by a drive roller 70 and extends about anopposed, idler roller 72. A planar member in the form of a sprung metalplate 74 bears against the belt 68 to maintain the planarity of the belt68 and, accordingly, the sheet of paper 24.

An engaging means, in the form of at least one spiked wheel 76, isarranged intermediate the printer 16 and the ejection slot 26. The, oreach, spiked wheel 76 engages the sheet of paper 24, after printing ofthe image 28, and feeds the sheet of paper 24 through the ejection slot26 to be accessed by the user.

In use, when an image 28 is to be printed, the user inserts a sheet ofpaper into the keyboard through the input slot 22 where it is fed to theprinter 16 by the feed arrangement 66. By means of an appropriatecommand via the computer, the information or image to be printed is fedto the printer 16 via the USB connector 56 and the controller PCB 55.The printer 16 is controlled by the PCB 55 to print the image 28 on thesheet of paper 24 and to cause ejection of the sheet of paper 24together with its printed image 28 thereon through the ejection slot 26.

It is an advantage of the invention that a computer peripheral isprovided which enables a person rapidly to obtain copies of images whileseated before the person's computer. In this regard, it is to be notedthat the printer 16 is a high speed printer which can print at rates ofup to 30 pages per minute. Hence, the need for using a communal workstation is obviated. In addition, the incorporation of the printerwithin the keyboard 10 considerably reduces the space required for acomputer together with its peripherals and, in so doing, providing morespace to a user. It will be appreciated that this can be of majorbenefit where the work station is a confined working space.

We claim:
 1. A keyboard, for use with a computer, which includes ahousing; an alphanumeric keypad carried by the housing, the keypadincluding key switches mounted on a circuit board; a page width printerarranged in the housing; a connector for connecting the keypad and theprinter to the computer; and a feed mechanism for feeding sheets from aninput slot to the minter, the feed mechanism being positioned betweenthe circuit board and an underside of the housing.
 2. The keyboard ofclaim 1 in which the housing has dimensions approximating those of acomputer keyboard, the housing having an ejection slot in one sidethrough which print media can be ejected after an image has been printedon the print media by the printer.
 3. The keyboard of claim 2 in whichthe input slot in an opposed side of the housing to the side having theejection slot for feeding print media to the printer.
 4. The keyboard ofclaim 2 which includes an engaging means arranged intermediate theprinter and the ejection slot for feeding the print media out of theejection slot.
 5. The keyboard of claim 1 in which the keypad includes aQWERTY keypad, a numerals keypad and a plurality of control key.
 6. Thekeyboard of claim 1 in which the housing includes an access opening forenabling an ink supply of the printer to be replenished.
 7. The keyboardof claim 5 in which the ink supply of the printer includes an inkcartridge which is accessed through the access opening of the housing.8. The keyboard of claim 1 in which the printer is a full color printer.9. The keyboard of claim 8 in which the printer is a photo quality colorprinter.
 10. The keyboard of claim 1 in which the printhead comprises anarray of nozzles, said array being fabricated by microelectromechanicaltechniques.
 11. A computer keyboard, for use with a computer, whichincludes a housing defining a chamber; a page width inkjet printerarranged within the chamber of the housing; a keypad having a number ofkey switches mounted on a circuit board, the circuit board being mountedin the chamber; an input slot in one side of the housing for feedingprint media to the printer; an ejection slot in an opposed side of thehousing through which the print media is ejected after printing; and afeed mechanism for feeding sheets from an input slot to the printer, thefeed mechanism being positioned between the circuit board and anunderside of the housing.